Machine for making welded reenforcing fabrics



June 4, 1929. w. H. SOMMER MACHINE FOR MAKING WELDED REENFORCING FABRICS 2 Shets-Sheet 1 Filed June 30, 1927 ,f a i June 4, 1929.-

w. H. SOMMER MACHINE FOR MAKING WELDED REENFORQING FABRICS Filed June 30, 1927 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 lnvzn-rma;

Ana- Patented June 4, 1929.

UNITED STATES WILLIAM H. SOMMEFR,

OF PEORIA, ILLINOIS.

MACHINE FOR MAKING WELDED REENFORCING FABRICS.

Application filed June 30,

This invention hasreference to machines for making welded fabrics; i. e. wire fabrics composed of longitudinal wires and transverse wires which are welded together where the transverse wires intersect the longitudinal wires. Such fabrics are more particularly used for reenforcing concrete material.

The invention has for its principal object to provide for such a machine, transformers .of such a construction and design as may be air cooled and which will permit of placement of a series of such transformers, one for each weld of a transverse wire with the several longitudinal wires, for the making of a fabric, the spaces between the wires of which may be two inches, four inches, or in multiples of such spacing, or other desired spacings, as may be desirable.-

The invention has for a further object to provide for wire fabric welding machines, transformers, preferably of the shell type. Such transformers are sufliciently compact to permit of the welding of cross-wires with comparatively small spacing; reduces the magnetic leakage and thereby insures a minimum amount of current consumption while at the same time gives greater speed in operation and considerably increases the per ton of fabric yield per machine. The cost per ton of welded fabric is, therefore, considerably reduced, over any other type of transformer that I am familiar with. Furthermore, by the use of this shell type transformer in machines of this character it is possible to reduce the magnetic interference arising from the necessity of placing the transformers in such close relation, due to the close spacing of the wires forming the fabric.

Other and various objects will more fully appear in the description .of the machine.

That the invention may be more fully understood reference is had to the accompanying drawings forming a part-of the description. illustrating a preferred embodiment of the invention, in which Fig. 1 is a vertical sectional view thru a fabric welding machine embodying my invention, certain of the frame parts being shown in dotted lines;

, Fig. 2 is an enlarged side elevation of the transformer seen in Fig. 1;

1927. Serial No. 202,584.

Fig. 5 is a detail sectional view, as the same would appear if taken on the line 55, Fig. 2.

Like characters of reference denote corresponding parts thruout the figures.

In the drawings, paticularly Fig. 1, I have illustrated only one longitudinal wire a and one transverse wire 6, in position to be welded where it intersects the wire a. Other wires 6 appear welded to the wire a. It is believed that it will be understood, without more detailed illustration, that there are fed a plurality of such wires a, which are preferably spaced equidistant from each other at whatever distances are desired and practical in the finished fabric, as for instance, two inches, four inches, etc. The wires 6 are fed at suitable intervals to be spaced from each other at whatever distances are desired and such wires 6 welded to each of the wires a where they cross and intersect such wires. The pull out drum or clamp for the wires a is designated 1, shown only diagrammatically by dotted lines and carried by a shaft 2 journaled in side frames 3, also shown diagramamtically in dotted lines. Such wires are fed from reels or drums, not shown. The wires 6 are fed cross-wise of wires a from any suitable sup ply and by feeding means, not shown. Such wires 6 being fed longitudinally of an intermittently rotated feed shaft 4 and deposited in grooves of shifter rolls 5 on the shaft 4, there being preferably a plurality of such rolls, one between each of the wires a. The position of feeding in the wire 6 is designated at c and from such position the same are fed by the rolls 5 to the welded position shown. The shaft 4 is journaled in bearings 6 on the face of castings 7, which are preferably copper. There is one casting for each of the wires (1 and each is provided with a vertically disposed guide 8 through which a wire a is fed or pulled by the pull out clamp or drum 1. Said castings are supported or carried by a bed frame 9, preferably of cast iron, and said bed is supported by the side frames 3 to which it is secured. The wires a pass up and in front of die members 10, one secured to each of the bearing members 6. In operation, the shifting rolls 5 move the wires 6 from the feeding in position a to the welding position in front of the die members 10.

Arranged to cooperate with each die member 10 is a reciprocal bar 11, movable. in journals' 12 supported by and insulated from the respective castings 7 and to the acting end of each bar is connected a die member 13 adapted to coact with the intersections of wires (1 and b and with a die member 10 during a Welding operation. Slidably connected at 14 with each bar 11 is a rod 15 and each rod is pivotally connected with a strap 16 connectedto and insulated from a rocker shaft 17 and said shaft is journaled int-he side frame 3 and connected with means, not

shown, for alternately rocking said shaft in opposite directions to reciprocate the bars 11 toward and from the dies 10. The forward movement of the bars 11 positioning the dies 13 in relation to the dies 10 and the intersections of the wires (1 and b to weld the latter together. A spring-18 is coiled on each rod 15 and so arranged that during the initial forward movement or thrust of the bars 11, said springs are compressed. Such initial movement causes the dies 13 to contact with the wires a and b and grip the same with the dies 10 then upon electricity flowing thru suchdies to heat and squash the wires a and b, causing a welding of the same, said springs 18 expand forcing the dies 13 to move slightly further forward with the squashing of said wires. The bars 11, during their forward and return movements, coact with switch controlling means, as I shall now describe.

There isa switch bracket 19 connected to and insulated from each bearing 12 and said brackets support suitable switches and controlling means, as follows :20 is a pivotally supported switch arm having a finger 21, and said arm is arranged for contact with 4 contact rods 22 and 23, the former being held stationary, while the latter is normally spring pressed forwardly, altho such means is not shown. Coacting with said switch arm 20 is a pivotally supported bell-crank arm 24, normally held in looking position against the' arm 20 by means of a spring 25. And adapted to act against said bell-crank arm 24 is a pivotally supported lever arm 26. There is also provided a pivotally supported operating arm 27 having a finger 28 adapted to engage with the finger 21 on the switch arm 20 and said arm 27 is normally held in operative position by a spring 28. This latter arm 27 is adapted to be operated upon 6 by a lug 29 carried by the bar 11, which said lug is also adapted to engage 'with the arm 26. The operation of the switcharms 20, in,

their relation to the rods 22 and 23, the controlling means, consisting of the arms 24," 26

and 27 and the lugs 29 on the bars 11, will be more clearly explained as the Welding operation is described.

Other'switch means and control therefor, comprises a series of switch brackets 30, one to correspond to each bracket 19; the former being positioned forward of the bed 9 and the latter being positioned in the rear thereof and supported thereby. Contact members 31 and 32 are connected with the bracket 30. The former. is connected in a circuit L with the rod 22 with which the switch arm 20 engages and the latter is in a circuit with the primary windings of a transformer, to be described. Adapted to have engagement with the contacts 31 and 32 is a contact member 33 connected to and insulated from a pivoted bell-crank arm 34 which is under normal action of a spring 35. One end of said bell-crank arm 34 is caused to ride on a cam member 36 carried by a 1'0- tating shaft 37 journaled in suitable bearings, not shown, on the side frames 3. This shaft may be rotated in any suitable manner, and the cams 36 thereon, of which there is one corresponding to each bar 11, and said shaft 37 the shaft 4 and the shaft 17 are operated in timed relation to each other to accomplish the closing of electrical circuits at the time of placing the wires 6 in position to be welded to the wires a, and the movement of the bars 11 into position for such welding. The cams 36, during a partial revolution hold the arms 34 so as to separate the contact 33 from the contacts 31 and 32 and during the remainder of the rotation of said cams 36, the arms 34 are released, permitting the springs 35 to act to force the contact 33 into engagement with the contacts 31 and 32.

There is provided a transformer, which I have designated 38, for each welding unit, comprising the bars 11 and their dies 13, and the coacting die members 10. These transformers are preferably of the shell type, air cooled. I employ this type, I believe, for the first time in welding machine, and particularly for use in welding crosswires to each other to produce welded fabrics. They are quick inaction, more highly efficient for work of this character, and can be operated for longer periods of time withtransformer in machines of this character it is possible to reduce the magnetic inter- "here and above, by the use of this shell type fabric.

Each transformer includes a secondary winding 39, one terminal 40 of which is connectedto a rigid binding post 41 on a casting 7, and the other terminal 42 of which is connected to a flexible lead 43, in turn connected to a post or lug 44 on a bar 11. The several secondary windings may be supported by a filler block 45, of insulating material, or each such winding may be supported by an individual block. The primary winding, is preferably two coils 46, one on each side of the secondary winding, as shown, and said secondary and primary windings are embraced by the laminated iron core 47. By reference to Figs. 1 and 4 it will be seen that circuit L connects the contact member 32 with one of the coils of the primary winding with a jumper between the two saidcoils and the circuit L is connected with the other of such coils. With the switch 20 in contact with the rods 22 and 23 and the contact 33 engaging the contacts 31 and 32, while at the same time the dies 13 and 10 are in contact with crosswires a and b, it will be obvious, without further detailed description how the electrical current flows thru the circuit L from the rod 23 to the rod 22, thence thru the contacts 31, 33 and 32 to and thru the transformers and to and thru the dies 10 and 13 heating the cross-wires a and b and causing a welding action between the two, and the current flowing to and thru the circuit L In the operation of the machine, assuming that a transverse wire I) has been moved into position cross-wise of the wires 0. and in front of the die members 10, the oscillatory shaft 17 will move the bars 11 forwardly so as to bring their-die members 13 into engagement .with the cross-wires a and b and together with the dies 10 hold such wires therebetween ready for the welding action. The forward movement of the bars 11 will remove the lugs 29 thereon releasing the operating levers 27 so that the springs 28 will move said levers 27 from engaging position with the switch lever 20 and this initial forward movement of the bars 11 will position the lugs 29 thereon immediately in front of but not quite engaging the levers 26, while at the same time the springs 18 will be compressed. In this position of the parts with the lever 24 holding the switch arm 20 against the rods 22 and 23, electrical current can only flow through the circuit L and to the die members for welding, providing a'contact is made between the members 33, 31 and 32, and it is at this time that the shaft 37 moves the cam members 36 from ofi of the arms 34 topermit the springs 35 to act to cause a contact between the memthe transformers. Immediately on the current passing thru the connected wires (1 and b the metal is melted causing a welding action and at the same time as the metal melts the springs 18 which have been compressed during the initial forward movement of the bars 11, will act to cause the bars to move further forward and at the moment that the welded action has been completed the lugs 29 on the bars 11 will engage and act on the arms 26 which in turn will move the arms 24 so as to release the switch arms 20 and the spring pressed rods 23 will move said switch arms 20 so as to break the circuit between the parts 23, 20 and 22 and stop the flow of current thru the circuit L to the transformers and immediately following this action the earns 36 move to a position to act on the arms 34 to break the contacts between the members 33, 31 and 32 and such cycle of operations continues s0 lon as it is desired to weld. Immediately fol owing the breaking of the contacts 33, 31 and 32 the bars 11 are retracted and their lugs 29 engage with the operating arms 27 to return the controlling parts in association with the switch arms 20, and such switch arms, to the position shown in Fig. 1.

What I claim is 1. In a machine for electrically welding wire fence fabrics, a frame having a member formed with a vertical wire guide and having a rigid binding post extending therefrom, a wire engaging die on said member, a reciprocal bar having a die cooperable with the first named die and carried by and insulated from said member, means to. reciprocate the bar, switch mechanism, means to support the switch mechanism from the member, a transformer beneath said bar and in front of said member having an upwardly extending terminal secured to said binding post, a lug depending from said bar, and a flexible lead extending upwardly from the transformer and connected to said lug of said bar.

. 2. In a machine for electrically welding wire fence fabrics, a frame having a vertical wire guide and having a rigid binding post extending therefrom, a wire engaging die on said frame, a reciprocal bar having a die 00 operable with the first named die and carried by and insulated from said frame, means to reciprocate the bar, switch mechanism, means to support the switch mechanism from the frame, means on said bar to operatethe switch mechanism, a transformer beneath said bar having an outwardly extending terminal secured to said binding post, a lug extending outwardly from said bar, and a flexible lead extending upwardly from the transformer and connected to said lug of said bar. I

3. In a machine for electrically welding wire fence fabrics, a frame having a vertical wire guide, a wire engaging die on said frame, a reciprocal bar having a die cooperneath and adjacent to the bar, a flexible lead able with the first named die and mounted connected to one end of the transformer on and insulated from the frame, means to winding, means to connect said lead to the 10 reciprocate the bar, switch mechanism, means bar, and means to support the transformer to mount the switch mechanism adjacent to from the frame and to completethe circuit the bar, means on the bar to operate the to the other end of the winding.

switch mechanism, a transformer spaced be- WILLIAM H. SUMMER. 

